Neighborhood Bike Works was created in 1996 as Youth Cycle & Recycle, a project of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. At the time, many other cities were launching youth bike education programs, and advocates in Philadelphia were inspired to create their own.

Our first youth Earn-A-Bike programs were launched through the Philadelphia Housing Authority, at Westpark Homes at 46th & Market, and at a church owned by University of Pennsylvania at 42nd & Spruce (now Penn Alexander School). In 2000, Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) moved to St. Mary’s Church at 40th & Locust Walk.

In the following years, Earn-A-Bike, Saturday Drop In sessions, and Monthly Group Rides became staples of our program offerings where young people between 8 and 18 years could build bikes, go on group rides, learn mechanics and life skills, and make friends. “Bike Church,” a program for adults to use NBW’s workshop and tools, offered a space for anyone over 18 to learn about bikes, fix bikes, and help put the hundreds of bikes donated each year back into use.

During its first 20 years, NBW has gone through many metamorphoses. We have operated satellite locations and programs in West Philly’s Haddington neighborhood, in North Philly and South-Center City, and even outside city limits in Norristown and Chester. Key moments include: